Stockholm · Sodermalm, near Medborgarplatsen

Beck Kaffebar

The BECK KAFFEBAR sign above the entrance on Tjarhovsgatan, with people seated at outdoor tables on the terrace below

Beck Kaffebar sits on a corner of Tjarhovsgatan near Medborgarplatsen in Sodermalm, run by an owner named Johan who took the cafe's name from the old tar works that once lined this stretch of street, tjara being the black material left over from the process. Yellow tile, a black and white chequered floor, and a run of outdoor tables give the small room a cozy, lived in feel, and the terrace fills fast whenever the sun is out.

The espresso leans traditional and Italian in style, dark and low in acidity, pulled from organic beans sourced through a small Swedish micro roastery. The kitchen bakes bread and pastries in house each morning, keeps options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diets on the menu, and will sometimes point regulars toward a secret menu item that never makes it onto the board.